House reps seek hearing on Conrail accident

Two New Jersey congressional representatives and one Pennsylvania colleague Thursday said they will seek to hold a hearing to determine the cause of a freight derailment last week in Paulsboro, N.J., resulting in a derailment and a chemical release.

Rep. Rob Andrews, whose district includes Paulsboro, was joined by fellow New Jersey Rep. Frank LoBiondo and Pennsylvania Rep. Pat Meehan, both Republicans, to express concern about the accident and current safety procedures following the accident.

LoBiondo serves as chairman of the House’s Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation subcommittee, while Meehan is a member of the Transportation Committee's subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials.

The three were briefed by officials Thursday while reviewing the site of the accident, southwest of Philadelphia and Camden, N.J., in which an 84-car Conrail Shared Assets train derailed, with several cars plunging into Mantua Creek. One of the cars leaked vinyl chloride, a toxic and flammable substance. The car reportedly was removed from the creek Thursday morning.